LAHORE: A high-level business delegation of Republic of Niger led by Niger’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabo Sabo Moctar visited Regional Office of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here Thursday and signed agreements with Pakistani companies to promote bilateral trade, and business-to-business meetings were also held.
The delegation included Niger’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabo Sabo Moctar, Minister of investment Zakaria Wergo, Secretary Industry M. Abdoulaye Boubacar, prominent businessman Saleem Gado Sabo and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Niger Ahmed Ali Sirohey.
On the occasion, Niger Minister for Commerce and Industry Gabo Sabo Moctar said there was a lot of scope for bilateral trade between Pakistan and Niger. Pakistan’s basmati rice was excellent therefore, Niger has a new market for Pakistani exporters. “Trade with Pakistan is our priority in pharmaceuticals, health, agriculture, irrigation, tractors, allied machinery, agricultural seeds, fertilizers and pharmaceuticals, transport, and other sectors, ” he added.
FPCCI Senior Vice President Khawaja Shahzeb Akram and Regional Chairman Chaudhry Muhammad Saleem Bhullar said that Pakistan and Niger were both members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), adding that there was an urgent need to increase bilateral trade.
He said that there was scope for promoting bilateral trade in other sectors, including pharmaceuticals, health, agriculture, irrigation, tractors, allied machinery, agricultural seeds, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and transport.
Under the chairmanship of FPCCI’s Pakistan-Africa Business Council, MoUs have been signed with the Government of Niger in pharmaceuticals, tractors, allied machinery, motorcycles, agricultural seeds, fertilizers, and other sectors. Shahzeb added.
Pakistan ranked fourth in the world in terms of milk and cotton production, seventh in terms of wheat, tenth in terms of rice production, and seventh in terms of production of fruits, he said and asserted that Pakistan was also a significant country in terms of investment. Therefore, both countries needed to cooperate for the promotion of exports and imports further.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Niger Ahmed Ali Sirohey, FPCCI Coordinator Muhammad Ali Mian, Zafar Mahmood, Nadeem Qureshi, Hakeem Muhammad Usman, Sam Ali Dada, and other members also shared their suggestions regarding the promotion of bilateral trade.